NEW: Missing boater's body found tied to anchor

Published: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 1:47 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 4:19 p.m.

MANATEE COUNTY - A body found in the Manatee River with an anchor tied to it has been positively identified as a missing boater, Patrick Mullins.

The cause of his death is undetermined at this time, as an autopsy performed today was inconclusive. When Mullins was discovered, there was rope wrapped around him with a 25 pound anchor tied to the rope.

Toxicology and other forensic tests will be performed to try and determine the cause and manner of death.

His body was found in about three feet of water in the Manatee River near Emerson Point on Tuesday, tentatively identified by the ID card in his wallet.

Mullins' family released a statement Wednesday morning, saying they are in mourning.

“We request your understanding and compassion in giving us our privacy at this time,” the family's statement says. “We wish to thank from the bottom of our hearts all the many loving and concerned individuals and organizations that have contributed their efforts and resources to resolving his disappearance.”

A Palmetto High School educator, Mullins has been missing since he went out on his boat in the Manatee River on Jan. 27. Mullins, had left a note for his wife, Jill Mullins, telling her he took the boat out on the afternoon of Jan. 27 to test the motor.

He never came back.

His boat was found adrift about two days later near Egmont Key in Tampa Bay, an area miles from Mullins' home on a canal along the Manatee River. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Coast Guard and other local agencies were not able to locate him.

After the agencies searched for more than two days, covering about 2,225 square miles, the official search was suspended last Tuesday.

Since the official search was called off, teams with dogs searched the shoreline of the river and detectives continued reviewing surveillance video, a time-consuming process, hoping to find a clue about Mullins' whereabouts.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 747-3011, Ext. 2535, or Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-TIPS.

A body was found in the Manatee River near Emerson Point just before 1 p.m. today.

The body was found in about 3 feet of water by a fisherman, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

The body is a white man, but positive identification has not been made. The sheriff's office said it will release more information as it becomes available. The medical examiner will take the body for investigation and an autopsy.

A local man, Patrick Mullins, 52, has been missing since he went out on his boat in the Manatee River on Jan. 27. His boat was found near Egmont Key two days later, but the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Coast Guard and other agencies were not able to locate him. After the agencies searched for over two days, covering about 2,225 square miles, the official search was suspended last Tuesday.

Since the official search was called off, teams with dogs searched the shoreline of the river and detectives continued reviewing surveillance video, a time-consuming process, hoping to find a clue about Mullins' whereabouts.

"Nothing new developed in the last week," said Dave Bristow, spokesman for the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. "We really hadn't gotten any leads."

Bristow did not have any information about the man's identity, but said they are looking into whether it is Mullins. The Mullins family was notified that a body was found and the identity is not certain.

"We don't have anybody else who has been reported missing," Bristow said.

He said identifying the body may take some time.

EARLIER: A body was found in the Manatee River near Emerson Point just before 1 p.m. today.

The body was found in about 3 feet of water by a fisherman, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

The body was a white man but positive identification has not been made. Further information will be released when it becomes available.

A local boater, Patrick Mullins, 52, has been missing since Jan. 27.

His boat was found near Egmont Key two days later, but the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Coast Guard and other local agencies were not able to locate him. After the agencies searched for over two days, covering about 2,225 square miles, the search was suspended last Tuesday.

EARLIER: A body was found in the Manatee River near Emerson Point just before 1 p.m. today.

The body was found in about 3 feet of water by a fisherman, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

The body was a white man but positive identification has not been made. Further information will be released when it becomes available.

A local boater, Patrick Mullins, 52, has been missing since Jan. 27.

His boat was found near Egmont Key two days later, but the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Coast Guard and other local agencies were not able to locate him. After the agencies searched for over two days, covering about 2,225 square miles, the search was suspended last Tuesday.

<p><em>MANATEE COUNTY</em> - A body found in the Manatee River with an anchor tied to it has been positively identified as a missing boater, Patrick Mullins. </p><p>The cause of his death is undetermined at this time, as an autopsy performed today was inconclusive. When Mullins was discovered, there was rope wrapped around him with a 25 pound anchor tied to the rope.</p><p>Toxicology and other forensic tests will be performed to try and determine the cause and manner of death. </p><p>His body was found in about three feet of water in the Manatee River near Emerson Point on Tuesday, tentatively identified by the ID card in his wallet.</p><p>Mullins' family released a statement Wednesday morning, saying they are in mourning.</p><p>“We request your understanding and compassion in giving us our privacy at this time,” the family's statement says. “We wish to thank from the bottom of our hearts all the many loving and concerned individuals and organizations that have contributed their efforts and resources to resolving his disappearance.”</p><p>A Palmetto High School educator, Mullins has been missing since he went out on his boat in the Manatee River on Jan. 27. Mullins, had left a note for his wife, Jill Mullins, telling her he took the boat out on the afternoon of Jan. 27 to test the motor. </p><p>He never came back. </p><p>His boat was found adrift about two days later near Egmont Key in Tampa Bay, an area miles from Mullins' home on a canal along the Manatee River. The Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Coast Guard and other local agencies were not able to locate him.</p><p>After the agencies searched for more than two days, covering about 2,225 square miles, the official search was suspended last Tuesday.</p><p>Since the official search was called off, teams with dogs searched the shoreline of the river and detectives continued reviewing surveillance video, a time-consuming process, hoping to find a clue about Mullins' whereabouts.</p><p>Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 747-3011, Ext. 2535, or Crime Stoppers at (866) 634-TIPS.</p><p>A body was found in the Manatee River near Emerson Point just before 1 p.m. today. </p><p>The body was found in about 3 feet of water by a fisherman, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>The body is a white man, but positive identification has not been made. The sheriff's office said it will release more information as it becomes available. The medical examiner will take the body for investigation and an autopsy.</p><p>A local man, Patrick Mullins, 52, has been missing since he went out on his boat in the Manatee River on Jan. 27. His boat was found near Egmont Key two days later, but the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Coast Guard and other agencies were not able to locate him. After the agencies searched for over two days, covering about 2,225 square miles, the official search was suspended last Tuesday. </p><p>Since the official search was called off, teams with dogs searched the shoreline of the river and detectives continued reviewing surveillance video, a time-consuming process, hoping to find a clue about Mullins' whereabouts.</p><p>"Nothing new developed in the last week," said Dave Bristow, spokesman for the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. "We really hadn't gotten any leads."</p><p>Bristow did not have any information about the man's identity, but said they are looking into whether it is Mullins. The Mullins family was notified that a body was found and the identity is not certain. </p><p>"We don't have anybody else who has been reported missing," Bristow said. </p><p>He said identifying the body may take some time.</p><p>EARLIER: A body was found in the Manatee River near Emerson Point just before 1 p.m. today. </p><p>The body was found in about 3 feet of water by a fisherman, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>The body was a white man but positive identification has not been made. Further information will be released when it becomes available.</p><p>A local boater, Patrick Mullins, 52, has been missing since Jan. 27. </p><p>His boat was found near Egmont Key two days later, but the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Coast Guard and other local agencies were not able to locate him. After the agencies searched for over two days, covering about 2,225 square miles, the search was suspended last Tuesday.</p><p>EARLIER: A body was found in the Manatee River near Emerson Point just before 1 p.m. today. </p><p>The body was found in about 3 feet of water by a fisherman, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.</p><p>The body was a white man but positive identification has not been made. Further information will be released when it becomes available.</p><p>A local boater, Patrick Mullins, 52, has been missing since Jan. 27. </p><p>His boat was found near Egmont Key two days later, but the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Coast Guard and other local agencies were not able to locate him. After the agencies searched for over two days, covering about 2,225 square miles, the search was suspended last Tuesday.</p>